Method of and apparatus for securing hose fittings to hose ends



April 27, 1954' F. G, ELDE 2,676,391

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SECURING HOSE FITTINGS TO HOSE ENDS Filed Dec. 11, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 5552 1 Zasa iffy- April 27, 1954 DER 2,676,391

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SECURING HOSE FITTINGS T0 HOSE ENDS Filed Dec. 11, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I i QF" 3 I 3/ v 2/70 27 Jnz/srzfaa.

pril 27, 1954 F. G. ELDER 2,676,391

METHOD OF AND US FOR SECURING HOSE FITT HOSE ENDS Filed Dec. 11, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 JHL/ET-ZZUE E250 [E7521 Patented Apr. 27, 1954 i METHOD OF AND. APPARATUS :FOR SECUR- IN G HOSE. FITTINGS v'JO. HOSEENDS.

Fred G. Elder, A-twater, Ohio;

assignor to The;

B. F. Goodrich Company, New York, N. Y., :a.

corporation ofNewYork Application December 11, 1951,'SerlaliNo.261,124'

'l'ziclaimsl l.

Thislnvention relates to the manufacture of hose and moreespecia-Ily to the assembling. and securing of a coupling or other fitting to the endof-ahose.

Theordinary, hose coupling. or fitting includes aisleeve'ofductile metal which fits closelyaround theoutside surface ofa hose-end, and another portion having a tubular shank .of ductile metal which fits inside the hose-end concentrically insidethe sleeve. This assembly may be securely fastened to the hose-end by either expanding the shank or by contracting. the sleeve, or "both, until the hose-end has been squeezed tightly between them. To prevent thefitting from popping off the hose whenthehose. is to be used'for handling .flu'ids under high pressure, etc., it has been proposed :to formthe ,hose with a thicker wall than is ordinarily usedon low pressure hose and also to .form the internal diameter of the hose smaller-than the diameter of the shank so that toassem'ble the parts of the fitting the shank gmustbe pressed into the hose-end. .Prior to this .inventionit has-b.een..-diiiicult to make this assembly without I scarring and gouging the interior and exterior surface of the hose. Various clamping procedures have been proposed heretofore. .but generally the. pressure required to .force the shank .into the end of thehose hasbeen so great .thatthe'hose has been displaced from the clamp during the. assembly causing damage to the hose- Itis an object of. this invention toprovide for holding the hose without damaging it whilethe shank is pressed .axiallyinto. the hose-end and secured'to thehose. Another object isto provide ior bulging the hose outwardly while the shank ls'heing pressed into the hose so thatthe bulged portion may cooperate. with mechanism for holdingthe .hose .to prevent axial displacement oi the :hose during the assembly ofj-thegparts of: the fitting. Another object is --to..provide novel apparatus for effecting these'operations, thea-ppanatus including clamping mechanism formed withr-a plurality of. elements adapted" to :fititoggethler innnating "relation. to apply constrictive pressure tothehoseyto hold *thehose while the fitting. pants are assembled and also suitable mechanism l'or inserting the shank of the fitting *i-nto thehose-end. A further and important ob- Ject-of the present invention'is to provide for expanding the shank in such a' -manner that "after the assembly has been made the sharp, innermost edge of the shankcannot cut the hose asthe hose "is fi'exedinservice.

Otherfeatures and'objects of the invention will toe-apparent from the following description of the invention in connection with the drawings.

in the drawin s:

Fig; '1' is a side elevation, partially in section,

showing apparatu constructed according :to and embodyingthe principles of this invention;

F gs 2, Band 4 are views "taken on .the lines iii-'2; 3-3. and" 4-4, respectively, ,orFig. .1; and

Figs; 5,, 6' and '7 areviews showing the hoseendat various stages during thea-ssembly or the fitting.

As indicatecl'in Fig: 1 the: apparatus is formed with aframe-strncture l 0 which is adapted tobe supported'adjacent the end. of aworktable I2. On-theendIof the frame closest'to the worktable 12, there is ahose-clamping mechanism M which comprises a lower clamping block l6 .and an upper clamping block I! which are adaptedto be brought together tozclamp. a hose I8'ln position to have a fitting assembled on the end of the hose. The lower "block "I B is mounted on support members 19" (seealso Fig. 4) which are fixed to a flat horizontal plate 20"which covers a portion of. thetop of :the frame Ill. The front of, upper bloc'ktl! i fastened to the top of a vertical rod 2| and the back-o1 'JolockJl is fastened to the 'top of another verticalrod "22 by cap screws 23.. The rods"2l ,and-2:2 areparallel toeach other and they extend downwardly through and are .slidahly supported 'inthe lower block I6 and-they also exthrough the lower block 16 to .move the upper block] Ttowardandiaway from the lower block.

A ng-one side or the lower surface of blo k I11 and.the'upper suriaqe of block 1.6 there is a-right-angle cutout portion 33. These cutout portions 33"o1each .blockare opposite each other and inea'ch cutout there :is a metal insert 34 fastened by a cap screw '35.. When the cylinder 3i] is. operated to. bringthe blocks 16 and H together, the inserts are adaptedto contact each otheralong-fiat, mating surfaces. Each insert has .a semi-circular concavity 3.1 in its surface '36 (see .Fig. 4). extending from the back of the insert to a point .38'toward'the front of the insert and when thelblocksare brought together into mating relation the .concavities. 31 register with each other to surrcundthe outside surface of the hose. snugly and .apply radial constrictive pres-- sure on the hose. Eachcohcavity 31 terminates atfpo'int 38by blending smoothly into a recess or groove I39 which appreciably deeper than the concavit .31 and which is. .formed ooncen trio-ally;v The-recess is relatively. narrow and it blends smoothly into another semi-circular concavity 40 which extends to the front of each insert. The concavity 40 has a greater radius than concavity 31 although it is not as deep as the recess 39. When the blocks are together the recesses 39 are adapted to register with each other and also the concavities 40 are adapted to register with each other to define cylindrical enclosures around the hose. The purpose of the recesses 39 and the concavities 46 will be'explained in connection with the operation of the apparatus.

The inserts 34 are removablyfastened by. the screws 35 so that other similar inserts with different sized concavities may be substituted when the apparatus is to befused for processing hose of different sizes.

In Fig. 1 the clamping blocks are shown in solid lines in their open position. and the chaindotted lines show the blocks clamped around a hose l8. To locate the hose properly before it is I clamped a gauge at is employed which is fastened on the forward vertical rod 2!. This gauge has a flat upper end 45 which, when the blocks are apart, is located a fixed distance from the front of the Wer guide block 16 so that the end of the hose may be positioned in the concavity 31 of block Iiiwith the front edge of the hose flat against the end 45 ofv member 44. Thereafter jwhen the cylinder is operated to lower the block [1 against block 16 to bring the upper in 'sert 34 around the hose, the gauge member 44 is simultaneously moved downwardly away from the end of the hose to the position shown in broken lines by the downward movement of rod 21 to expose or uncover the front end of the hose.

Theportion of the hose between the point 38 in th clamping blocks and the gauge 44 is referred to hereinafter as the free length of the hose. Constrictive pressure is applied to the hose by the clamping blocks only along the concavities 31. From the point 38 to the front of the clamping blocks the hose is unsupported and the fitting is secured to this unsupported or free length of the hose.

At the right end of the frame ID as shown in F g. 1 there is located a mechanism 46 for fastening the fitting to the hose. This mechanism includes an expanding tool 41 for supporting the shank portion 43 (see Figs. 1 and 5-7) of a fitting to be fastened to the hose and this tool is mounted on an inverted channel 49 (see Fig. 3) having outwardly projecting angle bars 50 fastened to the flanges of the channel. The angle bars 50 are slidably supported in a track 51 formed along each side of the frame. A portion 52 (Fig. 1) of the channel 49 projects outwardly from the .tool 51 between the track 5! toward the clamping mechanism 14 and at the outermost end of portion 52 there is a downwardly extending bar 53 to which is connected the piston rod 54 of a fluid pressure cylinder 55 which is supported inside the frame IE! under the expanding tool 41. This cylinder 55 is thus operable to slide the expanding tool 41 alongv the track 5| toward and away from the clamping mechanism l4.

which the blocks 58 converge at the axial center of the head define a tapered opening 30 into which the narrow end of a slendeiytapered ram 6| is fitted. After the apparatus has been operated to insert the shank 453 into a hose clamped by the blocks It and 11, the ram BI is adapted to be forced axially through the opening 60 by a pressure cylinder 62 to urge the blocks 59 radially outward substantially as shown in Fi 2. This radial movement expands the shank tightly against the interior surface of the hose-end. The holding or gripping strength of the shank is increased further by the action of a number of small parallel ridges 63 (Fig. 5) which are formed on the circumferential surface of each block 59. These ridges are adapted to bite into the shank as the shank is being expanded and form corrugations which grip the hose-end tightly.

Figs. 5-7 show the condition of the hose at various stages in the operation of the apparatus. The free length of the hose may be fitted with a cylindrical sleeve 65 which fits around its outside surface either before or after the hose is clamped in the inserts 34 between. the blocks 16 and I1. When the hose is properly clamped its free length will be axially aligned with the head 58 of the expanding tool 41. The portion of the fitting having the shank 48 is then mounted on the head 58 substantially as shown in Fig. l and Fig. 5 and then the pressure cylinder 55 is oper ated to move the expanding tool 41 toward the hose. Because the internal diameter of the hose is slightly smaller than the diameter of the shank, the shank will encounter resistance as it is pressed against the end of the free length. The pressure required to force the shank completely into the free length is generally so great that the free length will be compressed and will be forced axially into the concavity 40 in the inserts thereby causing the hose-end to bulge out into the recess 39 substantially as shown at numeral 66 in Fig. 6. The diameter of sleeve 55 is somewhat smaller than the diameter of the opening at the front of the inserts formed by the registering concavities 43 so that as the free length is compressed sleeve 65 slides easily into the concavities 40. Preferably the concavities 4!! form an opening just sufficiently wide enough to receive the sleeve 65 so that the free length cannot bend appreciably as th shank is being inserted but is held in alignment with the head 58.

The clamping concavities 31 fit sufiiciently snugly around the hose to constrict the hose slightly and thereby prevent any axial displacement of the hose in the clamping blocks when pressure is initially applied to fit the tip of shank 48 into the free length. The pressure required to urge the shank completely into the hose, however, might be sufficiently great to cause a slippage of the hose in the concavities 31 if it were not for the fact that the absence of confining resistance at recess 39 together with the pressure applied to the end of the hose causes the free length to bulge out as at 56. This bulged portion 56 cooperates with the concavities 31 to lock the hose firmly in the clamping blocks until the shank has been forced completely into the hose.

After the shank has been pressed into place the hydraulic pressure on the cylinder 55 is released, thereby relieving the axial pressure on the free length. Immediately thereafter the free length straightens, producing a force acting to push the expanding tool 41 away from the clamping mechanism I4. After the hose has straightened itself as shown in Fig. '1 then cylinder 62 -5 the projectionsfit tightly .materials of the hose der lip H to cause pbstructionrinsidefihe striated hose portion witha tree iength-projec is :operated to surge the/ram- 5| of the expanding tool .throughthe opening in in :headi58 -to separate the nested b1ocksi59 and-expandathecshank hose-end surrounded by the sleeve '55.

.An important ;feature;of the invention is in'the shape of the head'58 or the :expandingrrtool "-41. This feature isthe provision f asmal-l projection 70 formed on the outermostxendcf block :59 in head 58. 59 are nested together the projections :lflrfitutm' gether to define ;a knob-like supporting surface for an-annular,- inwardly turned lip H formed at the outer end of shank:-48. As shownrin :Eig. :underythe lipfll so that when the shank .is beinginserted into the free "end theseprojections 10 deflect :thennaterial of the hose and prevent rubber and:;-other --carcass.irom flowing aunshankand to result in scarringandzgouginglof the interior surface of the;hose.-

It is important to note that the-projections I0 terminate quiteclose to the lip H by aruertica-l surface 12 or the like .as shown inFig. 5.. one

to the action of the corrugation-forming ridges .63 on the head 5.3, the shank is shortened in length as it is expanded and if the enlarged portions 10 extended any appreciable-distance-finside the shank. the portions 1!} would press against the lip 1| during the expansion and bend the lip upwardly, leaving the shank with, a sharp edge which would cut the interior :of the hose as it :is flexed in service. Because of,-the location of surface '12, however, drop off the projections 79 as soon as the expansion of the shank begins-and thereforethe'shape of the lip ll is preserved substantially :as shown in .Fig. 7. 3. .1-

The invention is not limited :to', the. useiofjthe particular tool 47 as shown nor is-itjlim-itedzto the use of a toolwhich expands a shank; ,A shank-expanding type tool is preferred; however, since the shank may beinserted and then-ia stened to the hosein thezsame operation. .lltds. recognized that other types ofv equipmentx'may be used to-fastenrfittingsof the hose -.includ-ing tools which contract the. sleeve 55,,-etc. It .also possible to perform the assembly of the coupling on apparatus constructed according.

to this invention and then transfer the :hose-nto other equipment for fastening zthewcoupling in place; I Variations of the-structuremay beamade within the scope of the :claims.

I claim:

1. The method of. assembling afitting'toithe end-of a flexible hose; thefitting havingwaz shank to be inserted inside the, end of, the v'hoseerwhich method comprises holding the hose .=by-a-pp lng.

constricting pressure thereto to form.

:trom the constricted portion. to-receiver id shank, presenting said shankto said free :length of hose in axial alignment-therewith;and.efiecting relative axial movement between saidconstriated portion and saidshank to cause.';.said shank and free length of 'hose'to telescope. .and bulge said free 'lengthofhose outwardly in the region :adjacent said constricted portion untilthe shank is .fully inserted into the freeulengthx-of -hose,

.:2. The method of assembling ahose fitting I th (seeing. when blocks" thelip "u may .of the fitting tightlywagainst the portion of the tively short -.distance=away from the end :to*re ceive the fitting; inserting the fitting, axially into the unsupported end of .the loose-and axially contracting the unsupported portion of the hose by the pressure-of the insertion of -=thefitting to bulge the hose outwardly in thez-region adjacent thesupported:portion, and preventing axial displacement of said-.-bulged portion-thereby preventing displacement ofthe hose dueto the nitial pressure of insertion :of the said'fitting until the said-insertion into the hose end ..is completed.

3. Apparatus for assembling a printing-with can endfof a hose; which fitting includesaushank adapted'to'be inserted intovthe hose, the apparatus comprising shank-supporting means, clamping means vhaving- .a surface for applying constricting pressure to the hose arelatively short distance from the :end to'which the ffittingisrtorbe secured :to hold the hose in axial elignmentzwith a *1 shank :supported on said supporting means, meansr'iior :urgi-ng said clamping means andisaid supporting :means 1 relativelytowardeach: other to press the shank axially into said hose, :and ;a recesst-in said :clamning-means into which :a portion of said hose between the constricted portion and. said :end is adapted to :be bulged as-the shank is pressed into the-end otthe'hose, said constricting surface of the clampingmeans blend- .i-ng smoothly into therecessto avoid injuring the hose asit-zris bulged.

Apparatus forassembling ant-tingto an end of a hose said appara-tuscomprisinga clamp having a plurality of-elements, means for bringing the elements into mating relation with-each other-"to'surround apoitioh of 'theghose to receive the fitting; each-element having :afirst concavity adapted to'apply' constidcting pressureon the outside surface :of-thehose a relatively short :distancefrom the end 1 or the hose :and ."a'deeper concavity adjacentsaid' first concavity, said deeperreoncavities ofthe elementswbeing adapted to register "with each others-when 1 theelements are in mating relationrto define an annular opening larger than the outer fliameter'of the hose arounda-portion of they-hose between saidconstricted portion andsaid end, the first concavity of. each element blending smoothly :into the deeper concavity, and means vfor pressing a .fittingaxially againstsaid end of the hose to :cause a portion of the hose to bulge intothe annular npenin .and thereby cooperate with the clamped -portionn of the hose -to-prevent axial .displaoe .ment of' the hose in the clamp while the fitting is pressed into stheendpf ethe hose.

5. .A-lclamp :for holding .a hose while aiitting tie-assembled with an end of the hose, said clamp ,comprising a plurality of elements movable into and rout :of. mating relation with .each .other ..to surround .a .portion of the hose. adjacent an end thereof, ,each .of :said elements hearing... .a longitudinal v-concavityytherein adapted :to apply ccn strictingpressnre ion thelsuriaoe 50.1 :the' :hose when thelelements. are matingrelation, and each .-.of.said elements having :a .second concavity deeper thansaid longitudinal concavity a apted to registerwith corresponding .concatfities of i the other elements when the elements are in mating relation .to. defines-an. opening around the hose larger than thewouter. diameter of the hose into which .a. .portion .of the hose may .be bulged. while .atfitting is pressed into the endiofithe hose, the longitudinal concavity-of each element blending :smoothlyintoisaidtsecond..concavity to avoid injuringl the hoseasitzisibulged. v l

' than the outer diameter able inside the end concentrically of inserting a member into directed gripp 6. A clamp for holding a 'hose 'while a fitting is assembled with the end of the hose, the clamp comprising a first portion having a surface for applying constricting pressure to the hose with a free length of the hose projecting beyond the constricted area, and a second portion surrounding said free length a spaced distance from the surface of the hose to define an opening larger of the hose into which opening the free length is is assembled, the surface of the first portion of the clamp bending smoothly into said second portion to avoid injuring the hose as it is bulged.

7. Apparatus for assembling with the end of a hose a fitting having a sleeve for surrounding the outside end of a hose and having a shank insertthe sleeve,

comprising shank-supporting aligned axially with the shankthe apparatus means, a clamp supporting means for holding the hose, and means for moving the shank-supporting means and the clamp axially relative to each other to insert the shank into the hose; the clamping means having a surface for applying constricting pressure to the hose with a free length of the hose and sleeve thereo projecting axially toward said shanksupporting means, and a portion surrounding the free length a spaced distance to define an opening around the free length into which said sleeve is slidable as shank is inserted, and between said portion and said constricting surface a recess surrounding the free length and larger than the outer diameter of the hose, into which recess the free length is bulged as inserted.

8. The method of holding a flexible hose and the bore of the hose at an end thereof, which member has a diameter greater than the diameter of said b'ore, com-- prising applying a radially directed gripping pressure to a region of said hose spaced axially from the end thereof, aligning the member with the bore at the said end of the hose, effecting relative axial movement of said member and said hose in a direction to cause the bore and produce radial bulging of the hose intermediate the said region and the adjacent end, and preventing axial movement of the bulged portion of the hose while continuing said relative axial movement until the insertion of said member is completed.

9. In the method of assembling a fitting to the end of a flexible hose, whichfitting has a shank adapted to be inserted into the bore of the hose at the end thereof with the said shank being greater than the diameter of said bore, the steps comprising applying a radially pressure to a region of the hose spaced axially from the end thereof with the portion of the hose intermediate said region and the adjacent end being, free of said pressure, aligning the shank of the fitting with the bore of the said free end of the hose, effecting relative axial movement between said fitting and hose i a direction to engage the latter and said shankthereby causing said shank to enter the bore of said hose and effect radial bulging of a part of the free end of the hose, and preventing axial movement of the bulged part of the hose while continuing said relative axial movement until the insertion of the shank into the bore is completed.

10. The method of securing to the end .of a hose a multipart fitting having a sleeve portion for surrounding the outside end of the hose and another fitting portion with a shank adapted to bulged when the fitting the shank is the member to enter outside diameter of portion of said fitting to the said 'head, the said being spaced from said supported end of be inserted in the end of the hose concentrically with respect to the sleeve portion, which method comprises holding the hose by applying constricting pressure thereto adjacent to and spaced from one end of said hose, applying the sleeve one end of the hose, presenting said fitting shank to said one end of the hose in axial alignment with the bore thereof, effecting relative movement between said fitting shank and hose in a direction to cause said shank to enter the bore of the hose and produce radial bulging of the latter intermediate said one end and the region of the constricting pressure, preventing axial movement of the bulged portion of the hose while continuing said relative axial movement until the insertion of said shank is completed, and then radially deforming at least one of said fitting portions thereby squeezing the end portion of the hose between said sleeve and shank portions.

11. An apparatus for securing to an end of a hose a fitting which includes a shank of ductile material adapted to be inserted into the hose end and having an inwardly turned lip at one end of the shank, said apparatus having clamping means including a plurality of elements movable into mating relationship with each other to support a hose for receiving the fitting, a tool for supporting the shank of the fitting, and means for effecting relative axial movement of the tool and said clamping means in a direction to press the shank of the fitting into the end of the hose held in said clamping means, said tool including a radially expansible head supported at one end with the other end free and adapted to enter said fitting and said hose, said head comprising a plurality of elongated radially expansible sections each having a plurality of axially spaced transversely extending ridges on the outer surface adapted to engage the interior'of the shank of the fitting and effect a corrugation of the latter when the said sections are expanded, a radial projection on the outer surface of each section spaced from the supported end of said projections being adapted to supsaid fitting when the head is inthe inner sides of said projections the head a distance such that the lip of a fitting supported on the projections is adjacent said sides, whereby expansion of said head causes the ridges on said sections to corrugate the shank of the fitting thereby axially contracting the latter so that the-lip thereof is moved inwardly of the head from said projections and is not deformed thereby.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein the outer end of each of said projections has an arcuate configuration in axial cross-section whereby'the said projections cooperate with the lip of a fitting supported thereon to facilitate port the lip of serted therein,

entrance of the head and a supported fitting into References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,848,867 Callaway Mar. 8, 1932 1,945,777 Heidlofi Feb. 6, 1934 2,060,860 Flynt Nov. 17, 1936 2,258,919 Wallace Oct. 14, 1941 

